Neighborland

Neighborland operated as a civic engagement platform, connecting government agencies, real estate developers, and civic organizations with community residents to shape urban development. The company was co-founded in 2010 by Dan Parham, Tee Parham, and Candy Chang in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dan Parham, who served as CEO, brought his experience from Yahoo as a Director of User Experience. Tee Parham, the CTO, had a background in software development and technology consulting. Candy Chang, an artist and urban planner, leveraged her work in activating public spaces and her background in urban planning to help develop the platform. Her public art projects, such as "Before I Die," explored community engagement, which was foundational to Neighborland's mission.

The company's mission was to provide a more accessible, participatory, and equitable way for the public to influence neighborhood development. The platform blended a digital, map-based interface with physical installations to facilitate dialogue. Users could post ideas, support others' suggestions, and follow the progress of local projects. This model aimed to move beyond traditional, often ineffective, public engagement methods like town hall meetings. Neighborland provided its services to over 200 partners, including city agencies, universities, and nonprofits across the United States and Canada. Its business model was based on subscriptions for its self-service product and fees for additional services like program management, workshop design, and data analysis. The platform was always free for residents to use.

Significant milestones for Neighborland include receiving initial support from Tulane University's Social Entrepreneurship Program and the Rockefeller Foundation in 2011. In 2012, the company secured $1.2 million in a seed funding round from investors such as True Ventures, Obvious Corporation, and Lerer Hippeau Ventures. The platform facilitated projects that resulted in substantial social and economic impact, including the development of bike lanes, public plazas, and strategic plans for major cities. Over 3 million people participated on the platform during its operation. In September 2019, Neighborland was acquired by Nextdoor, a social network for neighborhoods, with the Neighborland platform operating until 2023.

Keywords: civic engagement, urban planning, community collaboration, public participation, placemaking, government technology, civic tech, community development, stakeholder engagement, resident feedback, neighborhood planning, participatory design, social impact, public-private partnerships, urban design, community projects, digital democracy, citizen engagement, real estate development, civic innovation